Information on Traveling to
and from the Bahamas
Most nationals of foreign countries residing in or
visiting the Bahamas are required to be in the possession of a valid passport.
Exceptions are made in the case of visitors from the United States, Canada and
the U.K., depending on their length of stay and their travel plans.
Each person entering the Bahamas must fill out upon entry, an embarkation-
disembarkation card. This is usually given to you by your travel carrier, or by
the Bahamas Customs official who greets you upon your entry. Tourists must have a return ticket and a the
necessary legal documents to allow them to enter into another country. You could
also be asked to provide evidence that you are financial able to maintain
yourself while in the Bahamas, as a visitor without a work permit (a tourist)
you are forbidden from engaging in employment in the Bahamas. Visitors can stay in the Bahamas for a maximum
of eight months if they can produce evidence that they are financial able to
support themselves (without having a job). All visitors classified as tourists
are forbidden to work in the Bahamas, under the penalty of deportation.
The Islands of
the Bahamas Implements the Same Entry Requirements as the United States
Destination Accepting Government Issued
Photo ID and Proof of Passport Application for Entry
June 18, 2007 – The Islands Of The Bahamas announced today
that its Department of Immigration would accept a valid, government
issued photo ID along with the proof of passport application for entry
into the destination, following the United States’ announcement that it
was temporarily suspending the requirement for air travelers to present
a passport for re-entry into the United States.
Potential visitors to The Islands Of The Bahamas who are concerned
that a passport may not arrive in time for their scheduled, or proposed,
travel dates should be advised that the U.S. Department of State has
temporarily revised enforcement of the Western Hemisphere Travel
Initiative from now until September 30, 2007. This reprieve and
cooperation from The Islands Of The Bahamas should alleviate concerns
and remove impediments to summer travel.
From the U.S. Department of State Web site:
"U.S. citizens traveling to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and
Bermuda who have applied for but not yet received passports can
nevertheless temporarily enter and depart from the United States by
air with a government issued photo identification and Department of
State official proof of application for a passport through September
30, 2007."
From now until September 30th of this year, you may confidently plan
a vacation to The Bahamas even if your passport has not yet arrived.
During this time official proof that you have applied for a U.S.
passport (passport status notice downloaded from the State Department
Web site at http://travel.state.gov)
along with a government issued photo ID such as a driver’s license will
be sufficient for air travel to and from the U.S. and The Islands Of The
Bahamas.
Travelers must have at least made application for a passport prior to
travel to qualify.
Passport Special Offers
Now that U.S. passport requirements to the Caribbean have
been temporarily relaxed through September 30, 2007, the Sheraton
grand Bahama would like to offer you a credit for your passport fee. And
so that you can take someone special with you, we are
offering a $200 credit per room. Now there is no reason to deny
yourself the unsurpassed beauty and charm of Starwood’s Caribbean. Book
your vacation in paradise today! With some of the most stunning resorts
in the Caribbean, we don’t want a passport fee to stand between you and
paradise.
US Return Entry/Return
Requirements
Passport Required to Enter or Return to the U.S. from the Bahamas
January 1, 2007 –
The U.S. Department of State has initiated new Travel Document
Requirements under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI).
Following is an excerpt of the new requirements:
"The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) will require
all travelers to and from Canada, Mexico, Central and South
America, the Caribbean and Bermuda to present a passport or
other accepted document that establishes the bearer's identity
and nationality to enter or re-enter the United States. The goal
is to strengthen border security and facilitate entry into the
United States for U.S. citizens and legitimate international
travelers.
"In the proposed implementation plan, the initiative will be
implemented in two phases. The proposed timeline will be as
follows:
"January 23, 2007 – Passports, Merchant Mariner Documents (MMDs)
or NEXUS Air cards would be required for all air travel, and
most commercial sea travel, from within the Western Hemisphere
for citizens of the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Bermuda.
This is a change from the previously scheduled date of January
1, in order to accommodate holiday travel.
"January 1, 2008 – The statutory deadline for all Western
Hemisphere travel, including land border travel. The specific
requirements for the land border crossing will be addressed in a
separate rulemaking in advance of this date."
Visit the U.S. Department of State's
website for more information.
For more information about new passport rules that apply to
U.S. citizens as well as to citizens of Canada, Mexico, and
the Caribbean, click on the links below.
For U.S. Citizens:
For Canadian Citizens:
For Mexican Citizens:
(Citizens of other Caribbean countries should contact their
national government officials.)
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Bahamas Government Passport and Visa Information
Keep in mind that the information on this page is subject to change with government fancy so check
the nearest Bahamian embassy and/or your travel agent for details.
Passports are required by all persons entering
the Bahamas except for (i.e. if you meet the below conditions do
not need passports):
- United Kingdom (England, etc) citizens
and its colonies on temporary visits not exceeding a stay of three weeks
- Canadian citizens on temporary visits
not exceeding a stay of three weeks
- United States citizens entering the
Bahamas as genuine tourists for a period of less then eight months and who are
in possession of proof of nationality, such as a birth certificate, or voter's
registration card are not required to have a passport.
Visas are required by all persons entering the
Bahamas except for (i.e. if you meet the below conditions do not need
visas):
- British citizens and Canadian citizens for
visits less than 30 days
- US citizens entering as tourists for a stay
less than eight months
- US resident-aliens in possession of US alien
registration cards may stay for visits less than 30 days
- Nationals of the following countries: Belgium,
Greece, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, San
Marino, Spain, Switzerland and Turkey
- Nationals of the following countries for
visits less than three months: Austria, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany,
Israel, Japan, Mexico, Republic of Ireland, South Africa and Sweden
- Nationals of the following counties not less
than 14 days: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El
Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname,
Uruguay and Venezuela
- Individuals who have a valid Bahamian
government issued residence or work permit
Click here for a listing of Passport and VISA
requirements by country and for a list of VISA offices.
Immigration Requirements
- Upon your arrival to The Bahamas, you will be required to fill
out an Immigration Arrival/Departure Card, which you will
keep part of until your departure.
- All visitors are required to be in possession of a return
ticket.
- U.S. visitors staying for eight months or less need a return
ticket plus a passport (passports expired up to five years may also
be used) or a certified birth certificate with an official
photo identification.
- Naturalized Bahamian citizens require naturalization papers
(photo identification is not required).
- Alien residents in possession of a U.S. Alien Registration Card
may enter The Bahamas without a visa for visits not exceeding thirty
days. Presentation of a current national passport, or one that has
been expired for five years or less, facilitates processing.
- Permanent residents (green card holders) require their green
card and a valid passport from their place of birth.
- Canadian visitors staying less than three weeks need the same
identification as those from the U.S. and do not require a visa.
- Landed immigrants in possession of the Canadian Immigration
Record Form 1000 should follow the same requirements as Alien
residents.
- All others need a valid passport.
- British subjects from the United Kingdom and colonies may enter
The Bahamas as visitors without passports or visas for periods not
exceeding three weeks. For longer stays they must present a
passport.
- A Yellow Fever vaccination certificate is required from
travelers over one year of age coming from the following countries:
Angola, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina
Faso, Colombia, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ecuador,
French Guiana, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria,
Sierra Leone, Peru and Sudan. Travelers from these countries
must be vaccinated 10 days prior to entering The Bahamas and must
have a valid certificate of vaccination against Yellow Fever.
Bahamas Customs on Items Imported into the Bahamas for
Visitors
Baggage declaration by temporary visitors is oral, but baggage is subject to
Customs inspection. In case there are dutiable ("taxable") articles, the visitor
will be required to complete a Baggage Declaration Form. Each adult is allowed
50 cigars or cigarettes or one pound of tobacco and one quart of spirits free of
Customs Duty, in addition to personal effects. In addition, purchases up to a
value of one hundred dollars ($100.00) are permitted by all arriving passengers. Computers such as laptops are considered a part of your
personal effects and therefore are duty-free. Linen and china
are duty free for each arriving visit. Household
effects, such as small appliances (such as blender etc.) are
dutiable at 45% of the cost. (Ouch!)
How
to get here: Unless you are Jesus, walking is out of the question
Your choices are by air or sea. By sea, either on a private boat or commercial
cruise, or by one of the many commercial daily flights that go in and out of the
Bahamas. Of course, if you're in the mood you can always swim. Walking or
driving--unless you car treads water like 007's-- is a definite impossibility.
Airlines: Click here.
Driving Tip: Right is Wrong,
Drive on the LEFT side of the road
When renting a motor vehicle remember always to drive on the left. Though it
takes some getting to used to (particularly when you are driving down deserted
roads in the family islands) accidents are rare.
Also remember that a percentage of Bahamian drivers drive very badly. It
seems the latest fad is to stop in the middle of the road to talk to your friend
who is walking down the street, or to stop in your lane to talk to the person in
the opposing lane, rather then driving onto the side of the road. Also watch out
for reckless taxi and bus drivers, who are incapable of reading speed limit
signs, or using signals when they cut me off. Also let us not forget: a guy who
turns into the road I am driving on in all haste who then slows down once he
gets in front of me. Sigh.
Tourists should exercise caution if renting motorbikes for transportation
during their visit. Severe, and sometimes fatal, accidents with motorbikes have
involved tourists. Travel by moped or bicycle is very hazardous,
especially in the heavy traffic conditions prevalent in Nassau, and
visitors should carefully consider whether such travel is worth the risk of a
serious accident. Those who choose to ride a moped or bicycle should drive defensively.
Lastly, when you are about to drive across a pedestrian crossing a Bahamian (or
tourist) will run to the curb to cross the street, and a few will slow down
as they cross the street. I have no clue why people do this. So take your time,
and be careful. You have been warned.
Look to your RIGHT (if not both ways)
when crossing
Since we drive on the left in the Bahamas, be extra careful that you look right
when you are crossing a road. Many a tourist has unfortunately attempted to
cross roads without looking in the direction a car is coming from--their right.
Even better--look both ways. Death and serious injuries have occurred when
visitors have failed to adapt to unfamiliar rules of the road.
Drinking age is 18
The drinking age is 18 and above. However, no one checks ID, so if you look
close to 18 you can get booze. Much advantage is made of this by young
Americans, particularly during the high point of the college year--spring
break--where they visit in legions. To make things worse, or better (depending
on your point of view), rum is usually a third of the U.S. price.
Gambling is 18
The gambling age is 18 and above. I guess if you are old enough to die in
Vietnam, why can't you be old enough to drink and gamble?
Bringing Animals Into The Bahamas
To bring an animal into the Bahamas requires an import permit obtainable from
the Dept. of Agriculture, phone (242) 325-7502/9 (no e-mail as yet). If you
would like to bring in a cat or dog, from the US, or Canada, you will need a
vetinary health certificate issued 48 hours before embarkation, and a valid
certificate of rabies vaccination for either the one year rabies vaccine (given
to the animal at least one month before arrival, and not more than 10 months
before arrival), or the three year rabies vaccine (given to the animal at least
one month before arrival, and not more than 34 months before arrival). For more
information contact the GB Humane Society.
Departure Tax of $18
The Bahamian government may not tax your income, but they will tax your departure. There is a government departure tax of $18 dollars (payable U.S. or
Bahamian dollars) in Grand Bahama, and $15 in New Providence, payable at your point of disembarkment. Please make sure
you have exact change when you departure as the people you have to pay this to
rarely have change.
(For those who
complain about the Bahamas charging this, the U.S. government charges twice this
amount, but includes it in your ticket).
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